Can closure applying tool



p 1941- G. E. NELSON 2,254,577

CAN CLOSURE APPLYING TOOL Filed Jan. 9, 1959 J] Q v [wean/r09 I Patented Sept. 2, 1941 CAN CLOSURE APPLYING TOOL George E. Nelson, Chicago, 111., assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a

corporation of New York Application January 9, 1939, Serial No. 250,074

1 Claim.

Benson, Ser. No. 239,402, filed November 7, 1938,

there is shown and described an inner seal or closure member for a metal container of the type including a neck portion. The closure is inserted within the neck portion of the container and is expanded beneath an inwardly curled edge on the neck portion.- Such a closure provides an eificient seal with the inner surface of the neck portion for closing the container and is effective to prevent opening of the container without destruction or deformation of the closure, thus guarding against unauthorized tampering with the contents of the container. The present invention more specifically relates to a hand operated tool for applying such a closure to a container of the type shown in the above-mentioned application.

An object of the present invention is to pro vide a closing tool which will uniformly expand the closure member into continuous and uniform contact with the neck portion of the container, thus insuring a uniform surface contact between the closure and the neck portion of the container.

A further object of the invention is to provide a closing tool of the above type which may be expanded into uniform and continuous contact with the surface of the closure member entirely around the inner surface thereof so as to effect a uniform expansion of the closure member into continuous contact with the neck portion of the container.

A. still further object of the invention is to provide a closing tool of the above type which includes a resilient and expansible member and a pair of relatively movable parts for efiecting compression of the resilient member and resultant outward expansion thereof whereby to effect a continuous and uniform contact between the closure member and the neck portion of the container.

The invention still further aims to provide a closing tool of the above type which is of simple construction, easily operated and thoroughly efficient in use.

resilient member M in a manner to be hereinwill in part be obvious and will be hereinafter more fully pointed out.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the closing tool before the parts thereof are moved to a position for expanding the closure into contact with the container.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side View, in section, showing the closing tool after the parts thereof have been moved to a position for expanding the closure into contact with the container.

Figure 3 is a further enlarged fragmentary view in section, showing the position of the tool when inserting the closure into the container.

Figure 4 is a view, similar to Figure 3, showing the position of the tool when expanding the closure into sealing contact with the container.

Referring more in detail to the accompanying drawing, and particularly to Figures 1 and 2 thereof, the tool is illustrated as including a central stem or spindle H) which is provided with an outwardly extending annular radial flange I l at the lower end thereof. A sleeve member I2 is provided witha central bore through which the lower portion of the stem I0 is adapted to extend. The sleeve member l2 and the stem [0 aremounted for axial movement relative to one another. The lower end of the sleeve I2 is enlarged to provide an annular portion l3 which is opposed to and substantially co-extensive with the flange H on the stem [0. Thus, the opposed surfaces of the flange H and the end portion I3 of the sleeve I 2 provide an annular recess therebetween. Within this annular recess, a resilient expansible member I4 is disposed. The member 14 is preferably of a suitable rubber composition which is substantially non-compressible, deformable and elastic so that it can be expanded and so that the inherent elasticity or resiliency thereof will cause it to return to a normal position. This member I4 is in the form of an annulus completely filling the space provided between the end portion l3 of the sleeveand the flange II on the stem. The resilient member l4 serves, in a manner to be hereinafter more fully pointed out, as a closure expanding or forming member.

The upper end of the sleeve I2 is provided with,

an outwardly extending radial flange IS, the upper surface of which is adapted to cooperate with cam means for effecting expansion of the The above and other objects of the invention after more fully pointed out. Adjacent the lower endof thesleeve l2, there is provided an outwardlyextendingshmilder It whichisdisposed abovetheendportionll.

A block I! is provided with a central'bo throughwhichthestem It extends. Thisblock i1 is disposed above the sleeve 12 and is provided with outwardly extending pairs of lugs ll, ila which are disposed above the flange II on the sleeve li. Pins i0, Ila extend through the lugs ll, its, respectively, and serve to. support operating members" 20, a. The upper endof the stem II is threaded for threadedly receivingan adjusting nut 3| which is providedwith a depending flange or, skirt 3! against which the tween theEfree ends of the handle brackets 2|, 21o, handle members 23, 23a are mounted. The

, ends of the bars 20,101: are shaped to provide by rivets 22,2211 1 or the like to thebarslli, 20a, respectively. Be-,

can surfaces 24, 24a, respectively. These-cam surfaces cooperate with the upper face of the flange II on the sleeve [2 to effect relative movement between the stem and the sleeve II. The cam surfaces 24, Ma-are shaped to provide stopcsurfaces 24b which engagethe outer surfaces of'the block I! within the-lugs l8, Ila to limit downward movement of thev handles.

The'tool is particularly adapted to be, used for applying a closure to a container ofthetype 1 shown in the co-pending application of George A. Benson, referred to above. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the container (not shown) is provided with a neck portion, 25 which is provided with inwardly extending projections 26 below the open end thereof. Above the projections 26, the neckpo'rtion 25 isflared outwardly, as at 21, and is then flared inwardly, as at 28. The free edge around the open end of the neck portion is curled inwardly, as at 29, to provide an inward bead. The closure or inner sealing member is made of relatively softor thin metal and includes a bottom wall portion 30 mash upstanding perlpheral wall portionioa.

After the container has been filled with its contents, the closure member is placed over the flanged end of the tool stem l0 and is then inserted within the neck portion of the container,

as shown in Figure 3. The peripheral wall portion lie of the closure member su'rroundsthe forming or expanding member I! and the bottom wall ll! of the closure member is positioned against the inward projections. In this position of theclosin'g tool,with the flange u and the end ii of the sleeve l2 normally separated,-

the resilient expanding member M completely fllls the space therebetween and the outer surface thereof is in line with the outer edges of the flange i l and the end portion i3. I The shoulder II on the sleeve I2 abuts against beaded edge II of the neck portion of the container so 1 as to limit inward movement of the tool relative to the container,

When it is desired to expand the closure memher, into sealing contact with the inner surface of the neck portion of the container, the operating members 20, 20s are moved from a substantially vertical position, as shown in Figure ,1,

the normal position thereof, as shown in Figures 3 and .4, sothatthe can be removed from container construction described above it will 1 beapparent that compression of the rubber i one end e f. a sleeve member and substantially co-extensi e washer or forming member It can be, usted bymeans of the nut 3!. Thus, the do v v nward perflmrehtive to the spindle v movemen blockl'lrelativetothespindliand totthe 211;: end it of the sleeve i2 spindle II can bebrought closer ther ga e a lr ai s cans 24a. 'lnelocking fit o i;

e. 1 position adjustin nut u in its ad- From the foregoing :dmcrlption, it will be seen that thereisprovidedatoolforpmvidinga'can closure which is contact with the which eflects a m-nded into container. The fliol ls'ong :sion of the closure memberso that sealing contact is afforded between t e thecontainer. Whileoneformof theinvention has been shown for purposes of illustration, it is to be clear-lysine mino changesinthedetaikorand wbemadewithm parting from the deforthintheappended I claim: I

Atoolforapplyinganinnerclosureto tainercomprisingastemwitharadialflang flt mqnhermrrounding oneem'lthereotopposedto "radial flang a su stan ially non but de formable elastic forming member disposed be: tweentheendofsaidsleevememberandsaid l andnormallywithth said stem and having nsequently eflanse u on rm and continuous expan- 9c of' the invention 1 as set outer edges thereof, a block member loosely mounted on said stem above the opposite end of said sleeve member and having laterally extending pairs or lugs, adjusting means on the opposite end of said stem for limiting upward movement of said block member relative to the stem, cam elements pivotally mounted between said lugs and having cam surfaces engageable with said sleeve member for effecting relative movement between said stem and said sleeve member with the radial flange and the adJacent end of said sleeve member moving toward one another whereby to outwardly force said forming member into expanding contact with the wall of the inner closure, said cam elements having stop suriaces engageable in a radial direction with the outer surface oi. said block member between the said lugs whereby to limit relative movement between said stem and said sleeve member, and means providing an outwardly extending peripheral shoulder on said sleeve member and said shoulder being spaced slightly above said iorming member and above the wall of the inner closure and adapted to contact with the edge of the container whereby to limit movement of the tool and the closure relative to the container during insertion and expansion or the closure.

GEORGE E. NELSON. 

